Track-torpedo.



H. W. KELLY.

TRACK TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED 0Ec,24.1915.

Patented m0. 4,1917.

torpedoes effective form ofrail attachlng means which AEWT HUGH WILLIAMSQN KELLY, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 AUBREY LOVE, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEWJERSEY.

TRAGIGTORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

"Patented 'Dec. @{ttlll'h Application filed December 24,1915. Se1'ia1-1\1'0.68,5t5.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH WILLIAMSON KELLY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Trenton, Mercer county, New Jersey,have invented certain Improvements in Track-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to track torpedoes; and the object of my invention is to provide of this type with a simple and will serve also as a protective cover or coating to keep the explosive portion protected.

A vfurther feature of my invention is to arrange a carrier for thetorpedo which, While serving to hold the torpedo to a rail by suction induced by a vacuum, will leave the under side of the load substantially free so that proper contact with the rail under the blow of the wheel will insure explosion. As the rail attaching element is in the nature of rubber or rubber composition, there will, therefore, be no danger of flying parts; hence my improved structure has substantial safety advantages not usually possessed by torpedoes of this class. A further feature is to provide for the use of loose detonating material which will be inclosed in the carrier retained in place by the device employed to hold the torpedo to a railhead.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: t

Figure 1, is a cross sectional view of one form of torpedo made in accordance with my invention, showing the same as applied to the head of a rail; the latter being indicated by dotted lines; 1 t

Fig. 2,is a perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, and

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views illustrating modified constructions within the scope of my invention.

In my present construction, the sucker or vacuum cupof rubber, rubber composition or similar material indicated at 1, is made with a thin top wall or cover 2 which is connected to the side walls 8; the latter terminating ina'flange 4 for engagement with the rail head, while on the interior of said cover structure an internal flange 5 is provided which serves to retain the load 6 in proper position with .respect to the vacuum cup carrler.

As in my former application, the load may be in the form of a pressed or shaped cake, preferably witha convex upper surface facilitating crushing engagement by the wheel of an engine or train, or it may be of any other shape so longasthe vacuum cup with which it is combined is of apractical type; that is to say, one havinga rail engaging portion substantially annular in outline or contour.

lfdesired,the detonating material may be loose and confined .by a suitablebox, cup, bag, wrapper or other container as may be desired, and detonating-material, whether in the form of a shaped cake or contained in a wrapper, is preferablywaterproofed. This may be done in any well known manner, as by dipping the torpedo proper into a bath of any suitable Waterproofing material, or such detonating material may be inclosed in a waterproof wrapper, or'the bottom of the carrier may be closed by a waterproof cover, as a sheet of friction cloth or similar material indicated at 7.

lnthe arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the

inner flange 5 upon which the load of detonatmg materlalmay restlmay'be omitted,

and inlieu thereof, a strap or band 8, substantially centrally disposed, may underlie the load and properly support the same with respect to'the vacuum cup carrier.

1 may be in the form of a small circular box of pasteboard or similar or any suitable material as shown in Fig. 4, SllClllOOX including a tray 9 and a cover 10. In other instances the tray 9 alone, may be employed, as shown in Fig. 5; the under surface of the same lyingadjacent the upper surface of the rail. In either instance, it may be desirable to reinforce or cover the under surface, and in Fig. 6, I have shown for the under side of the molded load.

In the structure shown in F ig. 6, the flange forming the vacuum cup lies within the dimensions of the torpedo body, and

.such flange may be of any dimensions that will insure retention of the structure to a rail head.

The manner of employing a vacuum cup, such asI propose for securing a torpedo to the head of a rail, is well known, and it will be understood, of course, that it will be advantageous to slightly wet the edges of the vacuum cup before it is applied to the head ofthe rail, and in some instances it may be desirable to provide such edges with a sticky material that will keep them in a tacky condition and that will assist in causing the vacuum cup to adhere to the head of the rail. This tacky or sticky material maybe any suitable body relatively non-drying 1n character.

The body of detonating material may be of'any suitable shape possible of combination With or securement to the vacuum cup; the only point essential being the preservation of a circular or annular engaging edge for such vacuum cup.

An important feature in connection with the use of a vacuum cup of rubber 01' similar material for the purpose of holding a track torpedo to the head of a rail is the fact that upon explosion the holder will be substantially entirely destroyed or, if not actually destroyed, any flying parts are incapable of causing damage.

While I have referred to the use of rubher or a rubber composition as the material from which the vacuum cup is formed, it will be understood that other materials may be employed for this purpose; for instance leather, and various kinds of compositions or materials which may be pressed into the desired shape and serve the function of a vacuum cup holder.

I claim: 1.. In a tracktorpedo, the combination of a body of detonating material, and an inclosure therefor covering the upper surface of the same and having at the base a substantially annular flange providing a vacuum cup structure whereby such body of detonating material may rall.

be held to the head of a Copies of this patent may be obtained for 2. As a new article of manufacture, a body of resilient or flexible material comprising a cup-like member of flexible material such as rubber, having a covering portion for a body of detonating material, and a flange carried by such cover whereby a vacuum cup is produced.

3. In a track torpedo, the combination of a hollow body of resilient material having a flange, a body of detonating material disposed within the same, and a still bodied inclosure for the detonating material interposed between the same and the flanged body of resilient material.

l. As a new article of manufacture, a body of resilient material having a flange and comprising a cup-like member, a body of detonating material disposed within said cup-like member, a stiff-walled inclosure for said detonating material, and a covering un derlying the detonating material and engaging the cup-like member; the latter having a continuous wall covering the other portion of the detonating material.

5. In a track torpedo, the combination of a body of detonating material, a relatively stiff-walled container therefor, and an inclosure for such container covering the upper surface of the same and having at the base a substantially annular flange providing a vacuum cup structure whereby such body of dctonating material may be held to the head of a rail.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a body of resilient or flexible material comprising a cup-like member of flexible material such as rubber, having an upper covering portion for a body of detonating material and a flange carried by such cover whereby a vacuum cup is produced, and a protective cover for the detonating material underlying the body of resilient material.

7. In a track torpedo, the combination of a body of resilient material having a cupped flange, detonating material disposed within. the same, and a stiff-walled inclosure for the detonating material interposed between the same and the flanged structure.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a body of rubber having a flange and comprising a cup-like member, a body of detonating material disposed within said cup-like member, an inclosure for said detonating material, and a cover underlying the dctonating material and engaging the cup-like member; the latter having a continuous wall covering the other portion of the detonating material.

HUGH WILLIAMSON KELLY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

